Santa Rosa-Vallejo Tanning Co. v. Charles Kronauer & Co.

228 Ill. App. 236, 1923 Ill. App. LEXIS 215
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedFebruary 19, 1923
DocketGen. No. 27,807
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 228 Ill. App. 236 (Santa Rosa-Vallejo Tanning Co. v. Charles Kronauer & Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Santa Rosa-Vallejo Tanning Co. v. Charles Kronauer & Co., 228 Ill. App. 236, 1923 Ill. App. LEXIS 215 (Ill. Ct. App. 1923).

Opinion

Mr. Justice Matchett

delivered the opinion of the court.

This is an appeal by the defendant from a judgment entered upon the verdict of a jury for $12,338.90. The statement of claim showed a demand for that amount by reason of the sale by plaintiff to defendant of 100 rolls of Buttbranded harness leather, 33 rolls of which were stated to be “held for shipping instructions.”

The defendant in its affidavit of merits admitted the giving of an order for the 100 rolls of harness leather at the price of 70 cents a pound; set up that the shipping of 67 rolls had been made at different times; that the first 9 rolls of leather were of .the kind and quality ordered and that defendant owed plaintiff the sum of $1,053.50 therefor, less certain offsets claimed; that the other rolls delivered were examined by defendant upon a reasonable time after delivery and were not found to be of the kind or quality ordered and were in fact not fit for the purpose for which the same were ordered; that it thereupon rejected the same, as it had a right to do; that plaintiff had agreed that defendant might return the leather, and that it agreed to call for the same and take it away, but afterward refused so to do and insisted on payment.

The answer further set up that “BB Harness leather” was known in the trade as “the best leather free from all imperfections. save that each side is branded on the butt.”

The case has been twice submitted to a jury, the first trial resulting in a disagreement.

The statement of facts by the appellant disregards rule 19 of this court, in that it fails to state “the leading facts which such evidence proved or tended to prove, without discussion or argument and without detail.” This omission has added much to the labors of this court.

The plaintiff is a manufacturer of leather at Santa Bosa, California; the defendant a manufacturer of harness leather at Chicago, Illinois.

April 27, 1920, plaintiff, through its broker, S. I. Beed & Company of Chicago, wrote defendant as follows:

“We confirm our telephone conversation of today, and have entered your order for 100 rolls of BB Harness leather, 15/19 K> sides, at 70^ a lb.; to be shipped by the Santa Bosa-Vallejo Tanning Co., Santa Bosa, Calif. Terms: less 2% — 30 days' or Net 60 days.

“We have requested Santa Bosa to ship the stock, 10 to 15 rolls weekly.

‘1 Thanking you for the order and with best personal regards, we are.”

On various dates from May 8, 1920, to June 29, 1920, plaintiff sent invoices of shipments made on this order.

June 9 defendant wrote plaintiff requesting it to hold up on the order “until you hear from us later, until the railroad people are able to make more prompt shipments. ’ ’

June 25 defendant wrote plaintiff, asking that when shipments again began, lighter leather might be sent, and July 3 plaintiff replied that it would comply with the request.

June 28 defendant wrote plaintiff complaining, that the shipments were short and that the arrivals were late, and July 28 wrote that it had opened the leather and found it not at all satisfactory; that it was not like sample, was too heavy, soft and spongy, etc. Plaintiff replied that it was sorry that defendant had any cause to complain; that it sent ‘ ‘ our regular selection of Buttbranded leather the same as we send to all of our customers.”

August 17, 1920, defendant wrote plaintiff: “We have your harness leather on hand, which has been rejected. Kindly let us hear from you by return mail what we shall do with same. If we do not hear from you within ten days we will return shipment to you.” Plaintiff replied by telegram August 24: “If you return leather it will be at your own risk.”

Alleged errors argued are: First, permitting attorney for plaintiff to ask leading questions to its own witness; second, as to the rulings on evidence; third, prejudicial conduct of counsel for plaintiff; and, fourth, the giving and refusing of instructions.

It is said that the court permitted evidence to be received tending to show an alleged custom in the leather trade, and this, it is urged, was contradictory of the express terms of the written contract. Also, error is argued in that the court received oral evidence to explain the meaning of the word “clear” as it appears in the written order.

We do not think the court erred in these respects. The general rule as to leading questions is subject to many exceptions and usually a matter in the discretion of the court. Thompson on Trials, sec. 360, p. 371. Defendant’s own pleading relied on a custom in the trade, and we do not think the court, in receiving evidence of the custom, or evidence as to the meaning of the word “clear” transgressed the rule laid down in well-considered cases. Lonergan v. Stewart, 55 Ill. 44. Nor do we think the court erred, as defendant contends, in receiving in evidence a postal card showing specifications which plaintiff used in making sales, there being contrary evidence for defendant which this tended to contradict.

Neither do we think the court erred, as defendant contends, in refusing to receive in evidence defendant’s exhibit 4, which was certain strips of leather which defendant had cut from the goods delivered. Yohalem v. Matolone, 225 Ill. App. 221.

Nor do we think there was reversible error in the conduct of the attorney for plaintiff. He asked the president of the defendant company if experts might be sent to the plant to examine the leather which was the subject of controversy. The court bverruled an objection interposed. Defendant then made a motion to withdraw a juror and continue the ease. Again, when the strips of leather were offered by defendant, the attorney for plaintiff objected and stated that he challenged counsel to let the jury go over and see the leather. This statement was, on defendant’s motion, stricken out. Defendant again made a motion to withdraw a juror, which was denied. We do not see error in this. Indeed, if defendant’s contentions were correct, an acceptance of the challenge would have offered an effective way of convincing the jury. Counsel for plaintiff in his closing arguments referred to his client as the “poor fellow from California,” and to defendant’s client as the “Market street gang.” It is obvious,however, that the word “poor” as used could not have been understood as referring to the poverty of the plaintiff. The phrase “Market street gang” should not have been used, but specific objection was not made to the use of either phrase. There was no motion to strike, no requested instruction to disregard. The error, if error it was, is not reversible.

Complaint is made of instruction No. 4, which is as follows:

“Under the terms of the order given by the defendant to the plaintiff, such order constituted a sale under a trade name, and the sale of merchandise under a trade name does not embody any implied warranty of fitness of the merchandise for any particular purpose or any implied warranty of the quality of the merchandise. ’ ’

The error argued as to this instruction involves the proper construction of section 15 of chapter 121a, Hurd’s Rev. St. 1919, of the Uniform Sales Act [Ca-hill’s Ill. St. ch. 121a, ¶ 18].

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
228 Ill. App. 236, 1923 Ill. App. LEXIS 215, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/santa-rosa-vallejo-tanning-co-v-charles-kronauer-co-illappct-1923.